WATCH: Dumped, injured kitten rescued in Richards Bay

They say cats have nine lives.

While that saying is usually attributed to cats that put their own lives at risk, one kitten in Richards Bay was thrown a lifeline when it was rescued last week.

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While out on an early morning run near the steel bridge, Marsha Muller, who doubles as one of Project Feral Cat’s (PFC) ‘cat angels’ in her spare time, heard meowing coming from the long grass.

“I heard a meow and when I looked, I saw this little head pop out from the long grass and fall down, and then pop out again and fall down, but it was bouncing,” said Marsha.

“By the time we got it to the vet, the kitten didn’t have a voice! It must have used up all its courage to let out this almighty cry because I would not have even seen it in the long grass.

“It’s a very sad situation, but kitty is okay. Its lip has been eaten – it must have been bitten,” she said.

Marsha estimates the kitten to be about four or five weeks old, and tame, leading her to believe it was dumped.

While the kitten is receiving veterinary care, Project Feral Cat is a volunteer-driven NPO that relies solely on donations and sponsorship to assist these cats and kittens in need.

The main mandate of the NPO is to trap, neuter and sterilise feral cats, so as to control populations through breeding prevention, but oftentimes unwanted cats and kittens are dumped across Richards Bay, Empangeni and surrounds, and, when found, they simply cannot be ignored.

If left unsterilised, one cat, through itself and its offspring, can produce more than two million cats over eight years.

“The feeding and fostering of these cats all comes out of the volunteers’ pockets, and is extremely costly,” said Marsha.

Without an NPO like PFC, Richards Bay alone would have been overrun with feral cats, as the NPO celebrated its 5 000th sterilisation last year since the organisation’s inception in 2017.

To contribute to Project Feral Cat’s vital work of controlling feral cat populations through sterilisation, and the feeding of feral cat colonies to lessen their impact on the environment, financial donations can be made to the bank account below.

Alternatively, cat food can be dropped off at a variety of places.

Contact PFC founder Heilke Ackerman on 061 4103089 for further details or search for Project Feral Cat on Facebook.

For cash donations:
Account: Project Feral Cat
Bank: FNB
Acc number: 62723232493

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